Indian Journal of Animal Research

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on the cognitive function and neurotransmitter levels in rats with vascular dementia (VD) and its mechanism of action. 50 male Sprague Dawley rats were selected for this study, and the vascular dementia model was established by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries of rats. Of which 40 rats were then divided into four groups (n=10): vascular dementia group, low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose ginkgo biloba extract groups respectively; another 10 rats were allocated to sham operation group. Rats in low, middle and high dose groups were received 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/d Ginkgo biloba extract via tail vein, respectively, while model group and sham group received an equal volume of normal saline. Morris water maze was used to evaluate the cognitive function of rats. After behavioral observation, these rats were sacrificed for detecting the level of acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in brain tissue. Ginkgo biloba extract can significantly improve the cognitive function of rats with vascular dementia, the mechanism may be correlated with the fact that the extract can obviously increase the levels of ACh, 5-HT and DA, as well as inhibit the activity of AChE.